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What are Amphetamines?

Amphetamines are stimulant drugs, used medically to treat attention deficit disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, narcolepsy, breathing disorders, and are also used for weight loss. Some of these medicines commonly used for weight loss are Adderall and Dexedrine. Ritalin also contains amphetamines. When amphetamines are abused the effects can be devastating and rehab is an important intervention. The body quickly builds a tolerance to the drug therefore causing a need for a greater dose to retain the original high. The feelings of elation, euphoria, strength, confidence, and power, come to an end and are replaced with intense feelings of depression, and the cravings for another larger dose ensue. Because of this, there is a great risk for overdose, and rehab can be difficult.

Amphetamines Street Names

Amphetamines are used by popping a pill, dissolving in water, injecting, smoking, snorting, sniffing, and are called by many names. Crystal meth is one of the most popular. It is easy to make, though very dangerous and has lead to monitored sales of common over the counter allergy medicines. Other street names and types of amphetamines include:

Side Effects of Amphetamine Abuse

Amphetamines can be very dangerous or fatal. Users may die from exploded blood vessels in the brain, heart attack, or dangerously elevated body temperature just from the primary use of the drug. The effects of amphetamines in the short term are as follows:

Those taking amphetamines quickly become addicted and will require rehab because the effects of coming “down” can be quite severe and will include extreme depression. Long term effects of amphetamine abuse are as follows: Restlessness, “amphetamine psychosis”, hallucinations, violent and aggressive or anti-social behavior, weight loss, tremors, gastrointestinal damage such as ulcers, and heart disease such as enlarged or weakened heart, disturbing thoughts, memory loss and brain damage, liver damage, and impotence.

Amphetamine Addiction and Treatment

Drugs damage the brain and it may take a considerable amount of time for that damage to be repaired. Once the user begins rehab treatment, it is important to understand some of the symptoms of withdrawal. Those symptoms can include some or all of the following effects: Severe craving, deep depression, fatigue, restlessness, and extreme anxiety, insomnia, deep uneasy sleep for as long as 48 hours, inertia, paranoia, mental confusion, psychosis and intense hunger.

It will take a while in a drug rehab facility to help a person recover from an acute amphetamine reaction or over dose. Body temperature must be kept stable and the patient will suffer psychological effects and need constant emotional support. It may be necessary to use tranquilizers in the event that a drug rehab patient becomes violent. Rehab patients will want to start using again in an attempt to cope with the fatigue they feel once the drug is out of their system. They may also need treatment for depression that comes as a side effect of the addiction. A long term rehab program for maintaining abstinence must be strictly followed. Recovering from amphetamine addiction is not unlike recovery from alcoholism and other forms of drug abuse.

Recovering addicts will profit from joining a support group. After the initial rehab period there is another 5 year period of sobriety before the rate of relapse drops to zero.